CNET Editors' Rating

The Bottom LineThe HP Pavilion DM1 netbook doesn't have the best screen in the business but it's a good option for tackling essential tasks on the go. The ability to playback high-definition video will no doubt appeal to movie lovers and those who don't want to spend a fortune on a laptop.

8.3 Overall

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Netbooks may have been pushed to the back burner behind the sleek and powerful ultrabooks hitting the market, but they're still a good option for those of you who just need to send the odd email on the go.

The HP Pavilion DM1-4125EA comes with a dual-core AMD E-450 processor and a generous 4GB of RAM.

It's available now for £350.

Design and build quality

The world may be quickly filling up with super-skinny ultrabooks, but that doesn't mean there isn't still room for a little laptop that retains some bulk but cuts the price.

Yes, it may be dumpy next to the lithe new ultrabooks, yes it has a chunky rear end, but we like something to grab on to.

With a total width of 292mm and a length of 215mm, it's certainly small. You'll have no trouble fitting it into your bag and chucking it over your shoulder. With a thickness of 32mm though, the DM1 is definitely more netbook than it is ultrabook. It's slightly slimmer than Toshiba's NB550D netbook, but considerably fatter than the Asus Zenbook UX21, which narrows to a carrier bag-splitting 8mm.

It weighs only 1.52kg though, which is a whole load lighter than a lot of laptops -- especially the gargantuan Asus NX90JQ -- so you won't feel too weighed down if you're carrying it around with you. It adds a few grams onto other netbooks, but you're unlikely to notice the difference.

The build quality of some netbooks is not always convincing because the chassis is an area that manufacturers cut back on in order to reduce the overall price. Thankfully though, the DM1 feels extremely sturdy. There was very little flex in the lid when we pressed on it and it didn't bend at all when opened up.

Bend it, shake it, any way you want it, the lid won't flex.

The wrist rest and keyboard tray are also free from any flex, which together with the metal banding around the edge makes this machine feel very well put together and suited to a rough life on the road.

Keyboard and trackpad

The keyboard uses isolated keys that are spread across the whole base, meaning that your hands aren't squashed up uncomfortably while typing. The keys are easy to press and the lack of flex from the tray means you can keep on typing for a long time without feeling the tell-tale cramps that come from using a horrible keyboard.

While the keyboard is compact, it's well spaced, so you can type comfortably without having to squish your digits together.

The trackpad is pretty small though and is more similar to the ones you'd find on other netbooks than on ultrabooks. Rather than being a recessed, separate pad, the wrist-rest has been given a dotted texture to indicate where to scroll. We weren't particularly keen on the effect as we often found ourselves accidentally trying to scroll outside of the sensitive area.

It will probably be okay for quickly opening a couple of files or sending the odd email, but if you're planning on spending any decent amount of time on it then we highly recommend you pop in a USB mouse.

It's easy to veer off-piste using the textured trackpad so we'd recommend plugging in a mouse if you're on it for hours.

The DM1 comes with the Beats Audio branding so we were expecting a decent serving of sound. For such a small device, it's quite loud, and the Beats software does help in boosting the bass. It's an adequate noise for watching a few episodes of a TV show, or for video chatting using the webcam. But if you want to really enjoy the deep, meaningful and poetic artistry that Justin Bieber weaves into his music, get a decent sound system. And medical attention.

Around the edge you'll find a VGA port, an HDMI output, three USB 2.0 slots, an Ethernet port as well as microphone and headphone jacks.

These are ports. You can plug cables into them.

Screen

The DM1 comes with an 11.6-inch display. We're fans of 11-inch screens as they're often a great compromise, offering portability and ease of use.

Andrew is a senior editor at CNET and has always been fascinated by tech. When not getting up close and personal with the latest phones, he can normally be found with his camera in hand, behind his drums or eating his stash of home-cooked food. Sometimes all at once.
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